20.4.12

LET THE ACTION BEGIN

All
the talking, the predictions, the conjecture, can stop. The Betfred.com World
Championship is about to begin.

This
is snooker at its best: gimmick free. The World Championship stands alone as
the last bastion of what championship snooker should be about, unsullied by
cheap attempts to dumb it down.

As
it has been for the last three decades the World Championship is 17 days of
lengthy matches, slow burning drama, great potting, big breaks, unexpected
misses, joy, despair, elation, heartbreak, good luck, bad luck and, for one of
the 32 players involved, a life changing triumph.

It’s
tough, really tough. You need skill, stamina, bottle and much more to become
champion. You need belief and mental fortitude. You need heart and nerve.

For
the eventual winner, a place in the history books awaits. For everyone else
there is only disappointment.

The
World Championship existed for 50 years before moving to Sheffield’s Crucible
Theatre in 1977 but the Crucible era coincided with snooker’s television age and
is thus awash with memories inescapably stitched through time in the grand
tapestry that forms the history of the sport.

Joe
Davis was the first champion 85 years ago. He used half of the original entry
fees to purchase the silver trophy which is still presented to this day.

Little
did he know what he started. Colour television brought the tournament into
living rooms and illuminated moments forever frozen in time.

Even
those who don’t remember them first time round can see them now: Barry Hearn
barrelling into Steve Davis after his young charge won his first world title in
1981. Alex Higgins tearfully beckoning his wife and baby on to the stage in
1982. Cliff Thorburn sinking to his knees after his 147 in 1983. Dennis Taylor
holding his cue aloft after his black ball defeat of Davis in 1985. Joe Johnson’s
smile, equal parts joy and disbelief, as he swept away Davis in 1986.

Into
the 1990s and the remarkable Stephen Hendry-Jimmy White rivalry, the emergence
of John Higgins, Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose 1997 maximum
remains an audacious exhibition of sheer skill.

We
had drama too in the 2000s, Peter Ebdon winning a decider against Hendry, Ken
Doherty’s 2003 adventure, Shaun Murphy triumphing as a qualifier.

Just
last year Judd Trump enthralled as the new kid on the baize, threatening the
old guard with his incredible potting, the latest in a long line of players who
have lit up the Crucible stage.

Close
your eyes and remember. And then open them and enjoy the 2012 edition, because
more memories are about to be created.

There
are a number of players going into this year’s tournament with every reason to
feel they can scoop the £250,000 first prize come May 7 after a season in which
the major prizes have been shared around.

There
are nine players in the field who have won the title before. Three players are
experiencing the Crucible’s unique and oppressive atmosphere for the first
time.

If
you are going to Sheffield to watch in person then you will be part of the
experience first hand. Everyone else can enjoy it on TV and online.

The
BBC has coverage all day on the red button (for those with satellite television)
and live terrestrial coverage in the afternoons. All matches are live on the
BBC website for UK residents.

Eurosport
has blanket coverage across its various channels and on the Eurosport player.

The
tournament is also live on Chinese TV and on liveworldsnooker.tv apart from
those areas with TV coverage.

Wherever
you are watching, I trust you will enjoy it.

It’s
been another great season of snooker, featuring more action than ever, but there
is only one World Championship. This is the ultimate test for any player.

I think the people who run the scheduling at the BBC are making a mistake in not having the 7pm-8pm slot in place until April 28th. It is an important promotional asset for red button coverage.

There is coverage on the BBC HD channel from 10am each morning, which is a new thing, complete with Rishi Persad presenting.

The freeview red button coverage is extensive but limited to one table, though it is sometimes on at same time as live BBC TWO coverage.

The network BBC coverage increases as we go on, by the time of the seim-finals it is extended broadcasts, and ball-by-ball coverage from Saturday May 5th.

The FA have also taken in our snooker watching needs by scheduling the FA Cup final for a 5.15pm slot, which should fit in nicely between the two semi-final conclusions.

There is also late-night highlights and students favourite Snooker Extra to indulge in if you've missed it live.

As for Eurosport, like Dave said it is blanket coverage, but during weekday afternoons next week the coverage is not on either channel until around 4.45pm, due to the Tour of Romandie and WTA Porsche Grand Prix tennis. I've got to say I find it baffling that Eurosport consider these events more popular than snookers biggest event.

One way or another, you can't really complain about the variety of options we have. Ten years ago you didn't have anywhere near this choice, although BBC Two did cover more in the evening.

I'm going to really make the most of this championship, as will be trainee teacher next year and then hopefully a qualified one. So this could be my last World Championship where I can sit watching in my pyjamas without too much concern of what else I should be doing.

Mark Selby has produced some of his best stuff at the Crucible and is somehat unfortunate not to have his name on the trophy.

He has fantastic mental fortitude, sustained scoring power, sound tactical game and the ability to play different ways to get a victory.

I'm done with my pre-Crucible posts. Now let us get the boys on the baize for my favourite annual sporting event, which is the longest annual sporting event held in Britian. Tour De France is the world leader.

Just to calirfy the Red Button issue, if you have a SKY satellite receiver then you will have a choice of both tables, all the time (there are actually six channels hidden behind the menu). If you have a Freesat satellite you get the same single red button channel that you get on Freeview, so you only get a choice of one table or none if there is a "higher priority" sport. Enjoy this years coverage because unless the BBC have changed their mind, multi channel red button on Sky ends after the Olympics as a "cost saving".

I'd say that Ronnie has a 75% chance of beating Ebdon, and should he come through that he would most likely play Williams whom he has an extremely good record against, say 90%. In the quarters he would probably be up against Neil Robertson, who I think he would have a slight edge over, say 55%. That puts Ronnie's chances of reaching the semis at 37%, so basically a 3/1 shot.